ITHACA, N.Y. – Junior forward Sean Farrell scored an overtime game-winner to lift No. 7/9 Harvard men’s ice hockey (8-1-1, 7-0-0 ECAC Hockey) to a 2-1 win over Cornell (6-5-0, 4-3-0 ECAC Hockey) at Lynah Rink on Friday night (Dec. 2). Farrell (goal, assist) factored in both goals for Harvard, setting up Joe Miller’s second period goal, and senior goaltender Mitchell Gibson recorded 22 saves to earn the win in net.
Harvard won at Cornell for the first time since Jan. 27, 2017.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Cornell got off to a quick start, as Travis Mitchell’s shot from the left point found its way through Gibson at 2:14 of the opening period. Harvard went on the power play moments later as Winter Wallace bowled Gibson over seconds after the goal was scored, but could not capitalize.
However, the Crimson bounced back with the game’s next four shots on goal, and had a golden opportunity late in the period to even the score, as junior Alex Laferriere skated in alone on a breakaway in the final minute. But Cornell goaltender Ian Shane came up with a blocker stop to keep Cornell ahead after 20 minutes.
Gibson was at his best in the second period, stopping all 13 shots to keep the score at 1-0 for most of the frame.
Harvard would even the score after a series of good shifts in the final minutes of the period. Junior Sean Farrell skated around a Cornell defender at the left wall and fired a shot on Shane. The rebound trickled to Miller, who found the empty net at 18:24 to even the score at 1-1.
The Crimson held Cornell to just one shot in the third period, controlling the play for much of the final 20 minutes of regulation.
That momentum continued into overtime, as Farrell skated in for a breakaway from the red line in on his first shift of OT. Shane stopped Farrell’s initial shot, but the rebound popped high into the air and back in front of the crease, and Farrell was there to put in the rebound at 1:11 of the extra frame to win it for Harvard.
GAME NOTES
- Harvard snapped a four-game winless streak at Lynah Rink (0-2-2). Overall, Harvard is now unbeaten in its last four games against Cornell (2-0-2).
- Farrell (goal, assist), has points in five straight games (4-7-11) and leads the team in scoring with 15 points (5-10-15) in 10 games.
- Sophomore forward Matthew Coronato (two assists) recorded his fourth multiple point effort of the season.
- Senior goaltender Mitchell Gibson is now 5-1-1 with a 1.83 GAA and .930 save percentage on the year.
UP NEXT
Harvard will take on Colgate tomorrow night (Dec. 3) in Hamilton, NY in a 7 p.m. contest on ESPN+.
